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THE GAME 


OP 


DRAW POKER 


)/ 

By JOHN VV. KELLER 


A uthor of “ Tangled Lives," etc., etc. 


INCLUDING THE TREATISE BY R.' C. SCHENCK AND 

Rules for the New Game of 


PROGRESSIVE POKER. 


“ To draw or not to draw, that is the question." 



NEW YORK 

WHITE, STOKES, & 
I SS 7 


ALLEN 


GrVl2.51 


Copyright, 1887, 

By white, stokes, & ALLEN. 




C O N TE N T S. 


PAGE. 

PREFACE,.I 


CHAPTER 1. 

Introduction .— The Element of Chance ,— The 

Question of Stakes, . , 3 

CHAPTER 11. 

Technical Terms, .p 

CHAPTER HI. 

The Order of Hands .— The Straight .— The 

Blaze, ....... 13 

CHAPTER IV. 

Rules of Draw Poker.—The Limit .— The 
Ante.—The Straddle.—The Deal. — Bet¬ 
ting before the Draw.—Discard and Draw. 

—Betting after the Draw, . . . 18 

CHAPTER V. 

fack Pots,—Incidental fack Pots .— The Buck. 

—Progressive fack-Pots, 


39 


IV 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTEPv. VI. 

Freeze Out, .40 

CHAPTER VII. 

Table Stakes, ....... 44 


CHAPTER VHI. 

The Unlhnited and Old-Fashioned Games . . 49 

CHAPTER IX. 

Hints to Players.—On J2idg7ne7it.—On Pa¬ 
tience—071 Co777i>tgl7i. — O 71 Straights and 
Flushes. — O71 Curiosity. — 07i Bluffi7tg.—On 
A.tte7ttio7i. — 071 Borrowmg, . , . 53 

CPIAPTER X. 

Sche7ick on Poker.—Of Drawmg.—Relative 
Value of Ha7ids m their Order, Begmning 
with Best, . .... . 66 


CHAPTER XL 

Mathematical Probabilities, .... 76 

CHAPTER XII. 

Progressive Poker.—The foker^ ... 79 



PREFACE. 


The existing and increasing popularity of Draw- 
Poker as a means of amusement to the better 
classes of American people, and the various meth¬ 
ods of playing the game—some of which are radi¬ 
cally wrong and the direct results of ignorance— 
amply justify a brief and simple treatise on Poker 
as a pastime. I have so frequently played this 
game with ladies and gentlemen, who either did not 
know its elementary parts, or differed materially as to 
its cardinal points, that I have become convinced 
that some easily accessible and easily understood 
book of reference is absolutely necessary for the 
preservation of good feeling among such players. 

While I hope that this book may prove interesting 
to all poker-players, it is not my expectation or inten¬ 
tion that it will prove instructive to those people 
who attempt to earn a livelihood by playing Poker 
for money. They know more of the game than I, and 
their methods generally are such as have no place 
in this little volume and, I trust, no sympathy from 


2 


DEAW POKER, 


its readers. It has been held by such people that 
the game of Draw Poker is dull and senseless un¬ 
less it is played for money. This is the gambler’s 
argument and is untenable because it is untrue. 
Such an argument simply degrades a really intellec¬ 
tual and scientific game at cards to a mere means 
of gambling. It might as well be said that Whist, 
or any other game of mingled chance and skill, is 
not interesting unless it is played for money. 

Of course it can not be denied that to some people, 
and they may constitute a majority of card players, 
a monetary consideration or stake heightens the in¬ 
terest of Poker. But this is equally true of not only 
all games at cards but of all contests whatever. The 
fact remains, however, that Poker is largely played 
with chips of only nominal value, and that the game 
thus played affords excellent amusement and enter¬ 
tainment. 

It is for the benefit of such people as play Poker 
in this way, and to such other players as look more 
to the pleasure of victory than the accumulation of 
spoils, that I have arranged the rules and observa¬ 
tions of this book. To them, therefore, I tender it 
in the hope that its contents may rescue the praise¬ 
worthy game of Draw Poker from the misuses into 
which it has fallen through the errors of the misin¬ 
formed and inexperienced. J. W. K. 

New York, Jan.,— 1887. 


CHAPTER I. 


Introduction. 

No game at cards has ever attained such wide¬ 
spread popularity as Draw Poker. Not only is it 
played throughout America, the land of its inception 
and perfection, but it has crossed the high seas, cap¬ 
turing every steamship in its triumphal voyage, and 
has laid siege to all the civilized nations of Europe 
with such success that its suppression has become a 
serious factor in the political economy of one of the 
greatest powers of the Old World. Nor does this 
seductive game stop with Europe and the Caucas- 
sian races. Far-away India and flowery China know 
it and love it, and I have heard that swarthy Egpy- 
tians study its combinations on the historic banks 
of the Nile and in the shadows of the Pyramids. 
Wherever cards are played Draw Poker will find its 
way and will ultimately overcome all other games 
of mingled chance and skill. 

Nor is the love that it engenders confined to any 
social class or classes. Rich and poor, high and low, 


4 


DRAW POKER. 


good and bad, male and female yield to the fascinations 
of Poker. Among its votaries are to be found states¬ 
men, priests, financiers, litterateurs., artists, tradesmen 
and artisans. The greatest minds of the country 
have turned to it for recreation, and the meanest 
have debased it for gain. No game at cards has 
ever been so abused or degraded, and yet its popu¬ 
larity is unimpared. In looking at the history of 
this game one is tempted to paraphrase a familiar 
proverb, and exclaim; Poker is mighty and must 
prevail! 

This vast popularity alone should gain respect for 
Poker as a pastime. But when one comes to thor¬ 
oughly understand the game, respect gives place to 
admiration, and admiration to love. This influence 
is wholly natural, and becomes palpable when we 
analyze Draw Poker. In the first place, there is no 
other game at cards that affords such numerous and 
varied combinations. It is an eternal round of sur¬ 
prise or disappointment. In the second place, no 
other game affords the player such option. There 
is the option of fixing the stake or naming the 
amount of the “ ante /’ there is the option of “ go¬ 
ing inthere is the option of playing before the 
“ drawthere is the option of “ discarding ” and 
“ drawing,” and there is the final option of playing 
after the “draw.” In the third place, no game 
whatever, whether played at cards or otherwise. 


THE ELEMENT OF CHANCE, 


5 


affords such a clear and comprehensive study of 
human nature. Draw Poker is insatiable in its ex¬ 
posure of human weaknesses. It tears the mask of 
bravery from the face of the coward; it exposes the 
hypocrite; it strips meanness of pretended generos¬ 
ity ; and it continually unearths unsuspected vices 
or develops astonishing virtues. The scientific 
poker player studies his adversaries as thoroughly as 
he does his cards, and attaches more importance to 
the peculiarities of their play than to the hands he 
holds himself. 

If Draw Poker had no other recommendation 
than its ruthless exposition of human foibles, it 
would merit respect and perpetuity. 

The Element of Cha7ice. 

Some worthy writers on the subject of Draw 
Poker have endeavored to eliminate the element of 
chance from this game. By a series of clever m-a- 
thematical calculations they have made a fair show¬ 
ing in this direction, and a few of them have been 
bold enough to declare that they have approximated 
elimination. To my mind this claim is a mistake, 
and I believe that the experience of every poker 
player will bear me out in the assertion. 

Dr. Pole, whose opinion of any game at cards is 
to be respected, has arranged a table showing the 
probability of the occurrence of the higher classes of 



6 


DRAW POKER, 


poker hands. From this table I will take one in¬ 
stance and compare the theory with experience. 
Dr. Pole has rightly calculated that the odds against 
a straight flush being held before the draw is 64,999 
to I. And yet my individual experience with 
straight flushes reduces that odds materially, for in 
ten years of poker playing I have held several such 
hands. In a single sitting of three or four hours I 
remember to have held two straight flushes. On the 
other hand a friend of mine, who has played fully 
as many poker hands as I, claims to have never held 
a straight flush. Now by what theory, other than 
chance, can it be explained that all these straight 
flushes should have fallen to me and none to him ? 

The effort to eliminate chance from the game of 
Draw Poker is as pitiably futile as the endeavor of 
those mistaken creatures, who wear out their lives 
searching for the secret of perpetual motion. Chance 
is a prime element of poker and must be so regard¬ 
ed in order to play the game successfully. Other¬ 
wise, players would be continually placing false val¬ 
ues on their hands. That is they would be playing 
their cards according to a fixed mathematical valua¬ 
tion, rather than according to a carefully estimated 
resultant of the possibilities of the hands out and the 
individual temperaments of the players engaged in 
the game. For it must be remembered that in poker 
“ bluffing,” or betting on nothing, is not only per- 


THE QUESTION OF STAKES. 


7 


missible, but is one of the most seductive features of 
the game. 

The definite application of mathematics, to poker is 
at best but limited. Even Dr. Pole stops at the 
“ draw,” for the “ discard ” produces combinations 
that are not only multifarious but incalculable, the 
element of chance having doubled its force with the 
discard. Therefore, there is no absolutely sure way 
of winning at poker, provided that the game is play¬ 
ed fairly. It must not be judged from this, however, 
that poker is a mere game of chance, for it is in re¬ 
ality the most skilful game at cards that has ever 
been invented. But the skill necessary to play the 
game well must be acquired by experience, and its 
perfection depends wholly upon the mental calibre 
of the player. Nevertheless, I venture to offer the 
following formula as a rule that should be remem¬ 
bered and applied by every poker-player. 

Study your adversaries caref ully j watch the ga 7 ne 
closely ; be patient in adversity and calm in prosperity. 

The Questio7i of Stakes. 

From its character and origin there can be little 
question that Draw Poker was intended by its in¬ 
ventors, whoever they were, for the purpose of 
gambling. But this does not detract from its merit 
as a means of amusement, nor is it any reason why 
the game should not be played without money be- 



8 


DRAW POKER, 


ing staked on the result. The finest equine contests 
invariably have the most money bet on them and 
the grandest exhibitions of rowing are made the oc¬ 
casion of heavy wagers. Is this a competent rea¬ 
son why people who love horses or rowing should 
be debarred from witnessing their favorite contests ? 
I am not endeavoring to defend Draw Poker as an 
amusement, for it needs no defense. The fact that 
it has become the means of extensive gambling is 
not the fault of the game but of the people who play 
it for gain. 

Personally, I do not object to a small wager on a 
game of poker, for I am free to confess that I see 
no harm in it. It is well known that ministers of 
the Gospel have enhanced their interest in Whist 
after this manner, and I know numerous irreproach¬ 
able laymen who have ventured beyond “penny- 
ante ” in Poker. But if money is to be tolerated 
in the game at all it should be in such small sums 
as not to arouse cupidity in the winner or occa¬ 
sion regret in the loser. 

But whether the game be played for money or 
not, so long as the only object is amusement, the 
method is the same, and the rules and observations 
that I shall offer hereafter will apply equally in 
either case. 


CHAPTER 11 . 


Technical Terms. 

In order to write intelligibl)^ on this subject it is 
necessary to use certain technical terms, without 
which no game of Poker is ever played. As I believe 
some of my readers may not be familiar with these 
terms I append a full list of them with explanations : 

Age .—The position at the immediate left of the 
dealer. The advantage of this position is that it 
insures its holder the last play under all circum¬ 
stances, unless some other player may have raised. 
This position is sometimes known as the eldest 
hand. 

Ante .—The stake deposited in the pool by the 
age at the beginning of each deal. 

Blaze .—A hand consisting of five court cards. 
This hand is seldom played and will be treated of 
more fully hereafter. 

Blind .—The amount deposited in a pool before 
the cards have been dealt. As poker is generally 


lO 


DRAW POKER. 


played to-day, especially in the Eastern States, 
blind has the same meaning as ante. 

Bluff. —To bet an inferior hand so as to win 
from a superior one. 

Bob-tail Flush. —Any four cards of a suit. Usual¬ 
ly worthless when called. 

Call. —To put into the pool a sum equal to the 
largest amount bet by a preceding player. 

Chips. —Tokens representing a fixed or nominal 
value in money. 

Chipping. —Betting. That is a player usually 
says “ I chip ” instead of “ I bet ” in making his 
first wager after the draiu. 

Discard. —To take from your hand the number of 
cards you intend to draw and place them on the 
table face downwards near the next dealer. 

Draw. —After discarding one or more cards to 
receive an equal number from the dealer. 

Filling. —Strengthening the cards, to which you 
draw. 

Foul Hand. —Any hand of more or less than five 
cards, or any hand obtained irregularly. 

Freeze-out. —The name of a species of the game 
fully explained hereafter. 

Going Better. —The act of betting more than the 
player, who has bet last before you. 

Gomg in. —Making good the ante and straddles 


7'ECHNJCAL TERMS. 


11 

and raises (if there be any of the last two), in order 
to draw cards and play for the pool. 

Limit .—A condition made at the beginning of 
the game limiting the amount of any single bet or 
raise. 

Making Good .—Depositing in the pool an amount 
equal to the highest bet previously made. The dif¬ 
ference between making good and calling., is that a 
player may raise or go better, after having made 
good. 

Original ILand .—The first five cards dealt to any 
player. 

Fat Hand .—An original hand not likely to be im¬ 
proved by the draw. For instance, a straight, flush 
or full hand. 

Pass .—To throw up your hand and retire from 
the game for that deal. 

Playing Pat .—Playing an original hand without 
drawing cards. A favorite device of bluffers. 

Pot .—The pool. 

Raise .—This term means the same as going better, 
and is more common. 

Say .—The time for any player to declare whether 
he will play or pass. 

Seeing a Bet .—This term is synonymous with 
making good. 

Straddle .—To place in the pool before the deal an 
amount double of the ante. No player has the 


12 


DRA W POKER. 


right to straddle the ante except that one immedi¬ 
ately to the left of the age. If, however, this player 
avails himself of his privilege, the next on his left 
may straddle his straddle and thus straddling may 
be continued in turn until the limit of the game is 
reached. 

Widow^ or Kitty .—A percentage taken out of the 
pool to defray the expenses of the game or the cost 
of refreshments. 


CHAPTER III. 

The Order of Hands. 

The order or rank of the hands played in Draw 
Poker is as follows, beginning with the lowest: 

Otie Pair .—(Accompanied by three cards of dif¬ 
ferent denominations.) The highest pair out wins. 
If two players hold like pairs the highest remaining 
card wins. 

Two Pairs .—(Accompanied by one card of an¬ 
other denomination.) If each of the players holds 
two pairs, the highest pair wins. Example: Aces 
and deuces beat kings and queens. If two hands of 
like two pairs meet, the higher remaining card wins. 

Triplets .—(Three cards of the same denomination 
unaccompanied by a pair.) The highest triplets 
win, and triplets always beat two pairs. Triplets 
are sometimes known as Three of a Kind. 

Straight .—(A sequence.of five cards not albof 
the same suit.) An ace may either begin or end a 
straight, but an ace can never be played intermedi¬ 
ately in a straight. Example : Ace, King, Queen, 


14 


W FOKER. 


Knave, Ten is the highest straight. Five, Four, 
Three, Two, Ace is the lowest straight. But King, 
Queen, Ace, Two, Three is not a straight. If two 
or more straights come together the straight headed 
by the highest card wins. A straight beats triplets. 

Flush .—(Five cards of the same suit not in se¬ 
quence.) If two or more flushes come together the 
flush containing the highest card wins. If the high¬ 
est cards tie, the next highest card determines the 
winning hand, and so on. A flush beats a straight. 

Full Hafid .—(Triplets accompanied by a pair.) 
If two or more full hands come together, the one 
containing the highest triplets wins. A full hand 
beats a flush. 

Fours .—(Four cards of the same denomination ac¬ 
companied by another card.) Fours beat a full 
hand, and the highest fours win. 

Straight Flush .—(A sequence of five cards all of 
the same suit.) When two or more straight flushes 
come together, the one containing the highest card 
wins. The straight flush beats fours. 

If none of the foregoing hands should be out, the 
hand containing the highest card wins. In case the 
highest card is tied, the next highest wins, and so on. 

If upon a show of hands two or more players in¬ 
terested in the call hold identical hands, and these 
hands are the best out, the players holding such iden¬ 
tical hands must divide the pool, share and share alike. 


THE STRAIGHT, 


15 


Tke Strazg/it. 

It will be observed in the foregoing arrangement 
of hands according to their relative values, that I 
included the straight as a hand that should always 
be played, and that I have peremptorily fixed its 
value as being greater than that of triplets and less 
than that of a flush. My authority for this is the best 
usage of to-day, and my justification is the undeniable 
merit of the straight as a poker hand. Without it a 
straight flush would be impossible, and without the ex¬ 
istence of the straight flush, four aces would be the best 
hand at poker, and, therefore, an absolute certainty 
to bet on—something that no one playing the game for 
amusement could possibly desire or tolerate. All 
written authorities on poker declare that straights can 
not be played without the consent of all the parties 
interested and that the intention to play them must 
be made known at the beginning of the game. This 
is a tradition rather than a just law and should be 
abolished. The straight is as legitimate as any 
other hand at poker, and the fact that it did not hap¬ 
pen to be used by the originators of the game is 
nothing against it. These same originators acknowl¬ 
edged no limit, but who, except the most reckless 
gamblers, would think of playing poker to-day with¬ 
out a limit ? The time has come when the straight 
should be accepted and played without question and, 


i6 DRAW FOKER, 

therefore, I have given it a place in the list of use¬ 
ful and necessary poker hands. 

The relative value of the straight to triplets is also 
a question that has caused considerable discussion in 
the past. This discussion hinged upon the question 
as to whether the straight should beat or be beaten 
by triplets. The game has been played both ways, 
and even to-day, I believe, in some parts of the West, 
triplets are played to beat the straight. The usage 
of intelligent and experienced players, however, and 
this is the best authority, has fixed the value of 
straights above that of triplets. 

Nor is this valuation unjustified by either mathe¬ 
matical calculation or an analysis of the in¬ 
fluence of the straight on the game of Draw 
Poker. Dr. Pole has calculated that the odds 
against holding a pat straight is 254 to i, while the 
same authority gives the odds against holding pat 
triplets as being only 45 to i. It will be seen from 
this that the chance against occurrence, which is 
the basis of relative valuation of poker hands, 
places the straight far above triplets. Moreover, if 
triplets were played to beat a straight, the latter 
hand would be of so little value that the chances of 
filling it would never be taken, and it would, there¬ 
fore, be practically eliminated from the game. The 
proper place for a straight is above triplets and be¬ 
low a flush, and it should always be played. 


THE BLAZE, 


17 


Efforts have been made to introduce into the 
game of Draw Poker what is known as the “ skip ” 
straight—a sequence of alternate cards. Example : 
Two, Four, Six, Eight, Ten; or Ace, Three, Five, 
Seven, Nine. Such hands, however, have never 
met with favor, simply because they deserve none. 
They add nothing of interest to the game and serve 
only to encumber it. 

The Blaze. 

The blaze is another hand that is occasionally 
played in Draw Poker. It consists of five court 
cards, and when played beats two pairs. It is the 
most contemptible of all poker innovations and has 
become almost obsolete. The game of Draw Poker 
needs no such addition to make it interesting. Its 
combinations are already incalculable and the 
player who can master the game as it is ordinarily 
played to-day should be satisfied. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Rules of Draw Poker. 

In order to insure pleasure and harmony in play¬ 
ing Draw Poker, it is absolutely necessary that each 
player should carefully watch the progress of the 
game and strictly observe its rules. A lack of 
knowledge of these rules has produced many curi¬ 
ous and often absurd ways of playing the game, 
while the carelessness of individual players has con¬ 
tributed more to confusion and dispute than any 
other single cause or all other causes combined. In 
preparing the following set of rules I have not only 
consulted the best written authorities on Draw 
Poker, but have borne in mind the usuage of the 
best and most experienced players of my acquaint¬ 
ance. 

The implements necessary for this game are a full 
pack of cards and a set of poker chips. The latter 
are made from various materials, but the best are 
of ivory. They should be circular in form, identi¬ 
cal in size and of at least three different colors. 


THE LIMIT, 


19 


representing as many separate valuations. The 
last requisite is due to the necessity of making 
change in the progress of the game. The number 
of players who can comfortably engage in poker at 
one sitting ranges from two to seven. I have known 
eight people to play in the same game at the same 
time, but this number is excessive, as it induces 
personal discomfort and forces the discard into the 
draw. 

The Limit. 

The first thing for a poker party to do is to fix the 
limit governing their game. This should be the 
case whether the chips represent real or nominal 
values. The unlimited game of Draw Poker is a 
dangerous institution, and so far as I know is never 
played for amusement. If the chips represent mere 
nominal values it does not matter much about the 
limit; but if they represent real values the means 
and inclination of the players should be carefully 
considered. In all instances I would recommend 
small stakes and a corresponding limit. When the 
limit is once fixed it should remain throughout the 
game. Many players will play the greater part of 
an evening at the limit agreed upon and then, find¬ 
ing themselves out of pocket, will request an in¬ 
creased limit. This request should never be 
granted. 


20 


IV POKER, 


The Ante. 

0 

The next thing in order is the determination of 
the deal. This is effected by throwing a card to 
each player, the deal going to the one receiving the 
lowest card. Then comes the ante, which is placed 
on the table by the player immediately to the left of 
the dealer and before the cards are dealt. The rule 
governing the amount of the ante is that it shall not 
exceed the limit of the game. This rule, however, is 
susceptible of modification, and in my opinion should 
be modified, at least, by agreement among the play¬ 
ers. Otherwise a party of liberal players will force the 
ante up to the limit throughout the game and thus 
reduce the play approximately to an exhibition of 
hands. Of course, with cautious players this would 
not occur, but caution is not generally a marked 
characteristic of people who play poker for amuse¬ 
ment. The proportion of the ante to the limit is a 
matter worthy of consideration, and to insure all the 
phases, and consequently all the pleasures of the 
game, this proportion should never be less than i to 
lo, and my experience teaches that i to 20 makes 
a better game. To illustrate my meaning I will 
take this example : If the limit is fixed at one dollar 
the ante should tiever exceed ten cents; and if it 
were kept at five cents, a more scientific and conse¬ 
quently a better game would ensue. But there is 
no law in Draw Poker to confine the ante to any 


THE DEAL. 


21 


sum less than one-half the limit, although thi» may 
be effected by agreement. The following rule, 
therefore, must be accepted as governing the ante: 
T/ie ante must be placed on the table by the age before 
any cards are dealt., a7id the amoimt of the ante must 
not exceed one-half the limit of the game. 

The Straddle. 

The right to straddle the ante rests wholly with 
the player immediately to the left of the age. If 
this player chooses not to avail himself of his privi¬ 
lege, no other player in the game can put up a 
Straddle. If, however, this player does straddle the 
ante, the player immediately upon his left may strad¬ 
dle his straddle, and this process may be continued 
in turn towards the left until one-half of the limit of 
the game is reached; the rule governing the limit 
of the ante applying to the limit of the straddle. 
When no straddle is made, the age always has the 
last say before the draw. But in the event of strad¬ 
dling, the last straddler has the last say before the 
draw. This does not apply after the draw, as the 
privileges of the age are then not transferable. 

The Deal. 

The cards must be shuffled face downwards 
above the board. Any player in the game has the 
right to shuffle the cards, the dealer always having 


22 


DRAW POKER, 


the right to shuffle them last. The player at the 
right of the dealer must cut the cards, and then the 
dealer must give to each player one card at a time 
in rotation, beginning with the age and dealing to 
the left. In this order he must deliver to each 
player five cards. 

If a deal is made without the cards ^being properly 
cut, or if a card is faced in the pack, there must be a 
fresh deal. The cards must be re-shuffled and re¬ 
cut, and the dealer must deal again. 

If a card is accidentally exposed by the dealer 
v/hile in the act of dealing, the player to whom 
such card is dealt must accept it as though it had 
not been exposed. 

If the dealer should give to himself or any one of the 
other players more or less than five cards, and the 
player receiving such improper number of cards 
should discover and announce the fact, before he 
lifts his hand from the table, it is a misdeal. The 
cards must be re-shuffled and re-cut and the dealer 
must deal again. 

If the dealer should give to himself, or any one 
of the other players, more or less than five cards, 
and the player receiving such improper number 
of cards should lift his hand from the board be¬ 
fore announcing the fact, no misdeal occurs, and 
the player holding the foul hand must retire from 
the game for that deal. 


BETTING BEFORE THE BRA IV. 


23 


These last two rules are among the most import¬ 
ant in poker, and yet through ignorance or care¬ 
lessness they are more often slighted than any 
others. 

The deal must go round the table in rotation 
from right to left. 

Betting Before the Draw, 

We have now reached a point in the game where 
it is necessary to impress upon the mind of the 
reader the most important general rule in poker: 
Everything must be do 7 ie in turn. The non-observation 
of this imperative law of Draw Poker has occasioned 
more confusion than all other causes combined. 

After each player has received his complement of 
cards the betting before the draw begins. If no 
straddle has been made, the first player to the left of 
the age must “ say.” If he desires to play he must 
first make good, that is, he must deposit in the pool 
a sum double the amount of the ante. If he desires 
to play for more than this he can do so by placing 
in the pool any additional amount not exceeding 
the limit of the game. If he should not care to 
play at all in that hand he can pass and retire from 
the game until the next deal. But whatever the 
first player may do the next say belongs to the next 
player to the left, who may come in or pass as he 
pleases. If he comes in, he must make good the ante 


24 


jDJ?A IV POKER. 


and deposit in the pool a sum equal to the raise, if 
there be any, of the preceding player. He may 
also make an additional raise of any amount not 
exceeding the limit of the game. And thus the 
betting progresses from right to left, the age having 
the last say. This rule in brief is as follows : 

Each player must in turn say whether he passes or 
plays. If he passes he 7 mtst retii'e frotn the game for 
that deal. If he plays he must deposit in the pool an 
amount equal to the highest deposit of any prefvious 
player^ and he may raise this highest deposit any ad¬ 
ditional amount within the limit of the game. 

If any player has deposited any amount in the 
pool and does not wish to “ see ” the raise of any sub¬ 
sequent player, he may retire from the game, but 
in doing so he must sacrifice whatever he may have 
already deposited in the pool. 

If a player raises and no other player sees his 
raise, he is entitled to whatever is in the pool. 

If all the players in the game except the age pass 
out, the age is entitled to the ante, and a new deal 
is in order. 

In betting before the deal no hands are shown. 

The effect of the straddle is to increase the pool 
and transfer the last say before the draw from the 
age to the last straddler. 


DISCARD AND DR A W. 


25 


Discard and Draw. 

After the deal has been completed, discarding and 
drawing must be done in turn, beginning with the age, 
if the age remains in. If the age has passed out, the 
next player to the left of the dealer must discard first 
and then all the players remaining in must discard in 
turn to the dealer, who has the last discard. 

A player may discard as many of his cards as he 
chooses and call upon the dealer to give him a like 
number from those remaining on the top of the 
pack. 

All the players must discard face downwards on 
the board before any player is helped by the dealer. 
(While this rule is given as imperative by the best 
authorities on poker, it is not generally observed in 
the usage of to-day, the custom being for each player 
in turn to discard and draw before the next player dis¬ 
cards. While this custom has the same effect as the 
rule given above, it expedites matters and in my 
opinion is to be preferred.) 

No card that has once been discarded must be 
taken in hand again. 

Each player must take the exact number of cards 
that he calls for. 

Any player, previous to lifting his hand from the 
board or making a bet, may demand of the dealer 
how many cards the latter drew, and the dealer must 
answer correctly. By lifting his hand from the board 


26 


DFA W POKER, 


or making a bet, a player forfeits the right to inquire 
and removes the obligation to answer. Under no cir¬ 
cumstances has a player the right to ask this question 
of any other player except tlie dealer, or to ask it of 
the dealer concerning any other player than the 
dealer himself. The theory of this rule is that every 
player should avail himself of the ample opportunity 
to know exactly what is being done in the game. 

Should the dealer give to any player more cards 
than the latter has demanded, and should the player 
discover and announce this fact before lifting his cards 
from the board, the dealer must withdraw the super¬ 
fluous cards and restore them to the pack. But if 
the player lift his cards from the board before an¬ 
nouncing to the dealer that a mistake has been made, 
he must retire from the game for that hand. 

If the dealer should give any player fewer cards than 
the latter has called for, and the player should dis¬ 
cover and announce the fact before lifting his cards 
from the table, the dealer must give to the player 
enough cards from the top of the pack to complete 
the number originally demanded. But if the player 
should lift his hand before announcing the mistake, 
he must retire from the game for that hand. 

If in dealing to a player after the discard the 
dealer should expose a card or cards, such card or 
cards must be placed on the bottom of the pack, 
and the dealer must give to the player a correspond- 


BETTING AFTER THE DRA W. 


27 


ing number from the top of the pack. (Usage has 
interpreted this rule in two ways : First, that the 
hand of the player, to whom the exposed card is 
dealt, must be completed before cards shall be dealt 
to any other player. Second, that the hand ot the 
player, to whom the exposed card is dealt, must be 
completed after all the other players shall have been 
served with their quota of cards. Of these two in¬ 
terpretations I prefer the first on account of its con¬ 
venience and common-sense.) 

Betting After the Draw. 

After each player remaining in for the draw has de¬ 
posited a sum in the pool equal to the highest deposit 
of any other player, and after each player in turn 
has been served with the cards he has asked for, the 
betting after the draw begins. Of those that have 
remained in for the draw, the first to bet is the first 
to the left of the age ; or, if he fails to bet, he must 
pass out. He may bet any sum not exceeding the 
limit of the game. The next player to the left may 
either pass out, call the preceding bet or raise it. 
And thus on to the age, who has the right of the 
last say. But in no case can a single raise exceed 
tlie limit of the game. 

If the age should not remain in for the draw, the 
first player to the age’s left must still make the first 
bet, as the privilege of the age is not transferable. 


28 


DRAW POKER, 


A player making a bet must deposit the amount 
in the pool. The worst of all poker habits, owing 
the pool, or “ going shy,” as it is called, results from 
the non-observance of this very important rule. 

If any player does not call or raise the highest bet 
of any preceding player, he must retire from the 
game and abandon whatever he has already deposit¬ 
ed in the pool. 

If a bet is called each player interested in that bet 
must show his entire hand to the board, the caller 
last, and the pool goes to the holder of the best 
hand. 

All poker hands show for themselves. A player 
may call his hand anything he chooses, but the cards 
must be shown, and they alone determine the result. 
Therefore, if a player miscalls his hand he does not 
lose the pool on that account. 

If a player bets or raises a bet, and no other 
player calls him, or goes better, he wins the pool 
and can not be compelled to show his hand. 

If a player pass or throw up his hand, he must re¬ 
tire from the game until the next deal. 

If a player bets with more or less than five cards 
in his hand he loses the pool, as he is betting on a 
foul hand. If only one player is betting against 
this foul hand, that player takes the pool. If there 
are more than one thus betting, the holder of the 
best hand takes the pool. 


BETTING AFTER THE DRAW. 


29 


If a player makes a bet and some other player 
raises him, and if the maker of the previous bet is 
not possessed of enough funds to see that raise, the 
previous bettor may put up whatever he possesses 
and call for a show for that amount. This call for 
a show, however, does not debar other players in 
the game from continuing to bet as long as they 
choose. But when the final call is made and the 
hands are shown, if the player who has called for a 
show has the best hand, he takes the ante and an 
amount from each of his adversaries equal to that 
which he himself has put in the pool. The remain¬ 
der of the pool goes to the next best hand. 

If a player borrows to raise, however, he must 
also borrow to call. 

These are the fundamental and imperative laws 
governing the game of Draw Poker, and while no 
one can learn the game thoroughly in any other 
way than the experience • of playing, nevertheless 
every player should be so familiar with these laws 
as to instantly detect a transgression or omission. 


CHAPTER V. 


Jack Pots. 

From time to time, since Draw Poker was inven¬ 
ted, innovations have crept into the game. Of all 
these attempts at improvement, there are only two 
that have unquestionably obtained their object and 
consequently merit embodiment in the rules gover¬ 
ning the game. These are the limit and the straight. 
Without the former. Poker would be a most danger¬ 
ous game, and without the latter, the natural and 
rightful combinations of the game would be reduced, 
and there would exist in poker at least one absolute 
certainty, four aces. I believe that poker players, 
generally, will admit that the limit and the straight 
are desirable and praiseworthy. 

To all other innovations reasonable objections 
may be raised. The most notable is the jack pot, 
a parasite of poker that has attained immense popu¬ 
larity, because it embodies and partakes of the na¬ 
ture of lottery more than of a scientific game at cards. 
Lottery has always been popular in any form from 


/ACA^ POl'S. 


31 


those gigantic octopi that stretch out their arms 
over an entire nation, to the pious gambling arrange¬ 
ments that delight the participants in church fairs. 
Human nature appears to find much pleasure in 
coquetting with chance, and the bolder the scheme 
and the further removed from logic or reason, the 
greater the fascination. Small minds, too, such as 
are incapable of the profound thought, the rapid de¬ 
duction, and the mental discipline necessary to suc¬ 
cessful competition at Draw Poker, turn with avidity 
to the scheme of lottery, as afforded by jack pots. 
For here comparatively little thinking is necessary, 
and the pool generally goes as the cards fall. 

This is the only way in which I can account for 
the unquestionable popularity of jack pot. For this 
innovation is almost wholly foreign to the genus of 
poker. In the first place it makes the game com¬ 
pulsory instead of optional, and option is at the 
same time one of the greatest beauties and one of 
the greatest merits of Draw Poker. In the second 
place the jack pot, in a limited game, reduces the 
play almost to a show of cards. If a player is in 
bad luck at jack pots, he has no chance of saving 
himself, for all the players are taxed equally without 
regard to their wealth or poverty, their prosperity or 
adversity. 

The jack pot derives its name from the fact that 
such a pot, or pool, can not be opened by any 


32 


JJ/^A IV POKER, 


hand of less value than two knaves, or jacks. It is 
said to have been invented in the West by a set of 
reckless players for the purpose of regaining their 
losses. Whether this account of its origin be true 
or not, the jack pot is often resorted to as a means 
of regaining losses, although such efforts more often 
prove futile than otherwise. 

In a jack pot each player must put into the pool 
the same amount of money, and the pot can not be 
opened by a hand of less value than two jacks. 
The deal is the same as in ordinary poker, viz : 
from right to left and one card at a time to each 
player. But the position of the age is almost re¬ 
versed from that of the regular game, the dealer 
having the last say, and consequently the first 
player to the left of the dealer, having the first say. 
This, however, applies only before the draw. 

If each player in turn should refuse to open the 
pot, for it is optional with the player to refuse, even 
though he may have in his hand a pair of jacks or 
better, there must be a new deal, the deal progress¬ 
ing from right to left as in the regular game. 

But before the cards are dealt the second time, 
each player must “ feed ” the pot with an amount 
equal to that “ fed ” by every other player. This 
“ feeding ” of the pot is simply a tax levied on each 
player prior to each deal. For if the second deal 
should not result in opening the pot, a third deal 


JACK' POTS. 


33 


must be made, and a third tax, or “feed," m.ust be 
imposed, and this operation must be repeated until 
the pot is opened. It will be seen from this that a 
jack pot may run on indefinitely, and that the 
amount eventually contributed to the pot by each 
player may far exceed that of his original contribution. 

The amount of the “ feed ” is a matter to be set¬ 
tled by the players before the game begins. Cus¬ 
tom varies largely as to the amount of the “ feed." 
In some instances it is the same as the original de¬ 
posit of each player. In other instances it is less, 
running all the way from one-half to one-tenth of 
the original deposit. And then again in an un¬ 
limited game, or in a game of unusually large limit, 
the “ feed" has been doubled with each deal, its 
original value being the value of the original de¬ 
posit. I am happy to say, however, that this last 
method of playing jack pots is very rare, and can 
be indulged in only by people who have a large 
amusement fund at their command. If jack pots 
are to be played at all I would recommend the 
“ feed ” to be at least a fifth of the original deposit. 
For instance, if the original deposit is fifty cents, 
ten cents each is an ample tax to be levied on the 
players prior to each deal after the first deal of 
each pot. I would especially recommend this in 
games v/hose limit does not exceed two dollars 
and a half. 


34 


I)A^A POKER. 


No player can open a jack pot for more than the 
limit of the game. 

After the draw the player who opened the jack 
pot must bet first, or declining to bet, must pass 
out and retire from the game until the next deal. 

If the opener should pass out without betting, 
the next player to his left must bet; and if this 
next player pass out, the next to the left must bet, 
and so on. 

If all the players in the game should pass out in 
turn to the last player, who has drawn cards, this 
last player m.ay take the pot and need not show his 
hand. 

If the opener should be raised out before the 
draw, the next player drawing cards to his left must 
bet first. 

The player who opens a jack pot, must under all 
circumsfances show two jacks, or better, to the 
board. This applies whether or not he is raised 
out, refuses to bet, or is called. (The application of 
this rule has given rise to much dispute, the point 
of discussion being as to whether in showing two 
jacks, or better, the opener should be compelled to 
show his entire hand to the board in cases 
where he has not been called. Usage is about 
equally divided on this point, although I can not 
see why it should be divided at all. The law clearly 
means that the opener shall be compelled to show 


JACK POTS. 


35 


only enough of his hand to prove that he could 
legally open the jack pot. This is also equitable, 
for one of the fundamental laws of poker is that any 
player must pay for the privilege of seeing the hand 
of any other. Therefore the opener of a jack pot 
unless he is called need show only enough of his 
hand to prove that he could lawfully open the pot. 
If he is called, of course, he must show his entire 
hand. If any question should be raised as to 
whether he had more or less than five cards in his 
hand, he can settle that question quite as well by 
placing his cards face downwards on the table as 
face upwards.) 

If in opening a pot a player finds in his hand a 
pair and a four flush, or four straight, he may 
break his pair and draw to the straight or the flush. 
But in doing this he must lay his discard to one side 
and give notice of the reservation to the board, in 
order that he may show a legal opening hand at the 
proper time. If he should fail to give this notice 
and his discard should in any way become mixed 
with other cards, he must forfeit whatever he may 
have put in the pot, the best contending hand tak¬ 
ing the pool. 

The general poker rules for raising and calling 
govern jack pots. 


3^ 


£>J^A IV POKER. 


hid dental Jack Pots. 

Thus far I have discussed jack pots as they 
stand alone and are played by themselves. They 
are, however, played incidentally in a regular game 
of Draw Poker. The devices for bringing them 
about are numerous and varied, but the most com¬ 
mon is this: 

If every player in turn before the draw passes 
out until the age is reached, the pot becomes a jack 
pot and a new deal must be made with the age as 
the dealer. 

This is the common law governing the making of 
jack pots m a regular game of Poker. It will be 
seen how entirely coercive it is and how foreign to 
the nature of the regular game of Draw Poker. If 
the age comes to a reckless player he will probably 
make the largest ante allowed by the limit. The 
different players pass out, and the result is a jack 
pot, every player being compelled to come in, 
whether he desires it or not, at an expense fixed by 
one reckless player. 

The jackpot kills caution, weakens judgment and 
makes patience highly expensive. Thus it 
will be seen that this innovation blights the 
three great qualities of a Poker player. Jack 
pots really should not be played unless they 
are played altogether, and then the game should be 
called lottery and not Poker. 


THE ^EUCKr 


37 


And yet jack pots are so popular now-a-days that 
they find their way into almost every game of Poker. 
Indeed players are so anxious for them that they 
invent all sorts of pretexts for their existence. In 
some games a jack pot is made on every misdeal; 
in others the age is forced out even after the draw; 
in others, still, there exist what are called “ forced” 
jack pots. The method of making these is as fol¬ 
lows : If only one player comes in before the draw 
the age may refuse to play and thus make a jack 
pot. Of course in this game, if all the players pass 
out to the age, the result is a jack pot. 

In another instance the age may force a single 
player to make a jack pot by putting half of the sin¬ 
gle player’s stake in the jack pot. This phase of 
the game is constructed on the remarkable princi¬ 
ple that the single player had won the age’s ante, 
but that the age had the right to choose whether to 
give that ante to its rightful owner or to consign it 
to a pool where all could play for it again, the age 
included. Of course the age always chooses to 
give it to the pool. Much of the logic of making 
jack pots is akin to this. 

The ''Buck.” 

With all these methods at their command, and 
often with all of them in pxtual use, some players 
are still not satisfied with regard to the frequency 


38 


DRAW POKER, 


of jack pots. Therefore having utilized all the pro¬ 
visions of the game known to them, they resort to 
the bold and ludicrous expedient of ‘‘passing the 
buck.” The “ buck ” is any inanimate object, 
usually knife or pencil, which is thrown into a jack 
pot and teiuporarily taken by the winner of the pot. 
Whenever the deal reaches the holder of the “ buck ” 
a new jack pot must be made. In this way a jack 
pot is assured at least once in every round of deals 
and the chances are that it will occur much oftener. 
While the use of the “ buck ” is ridiculous in the 
eyes of a scientific poker player, it is nevertheless 
productive of much amusement in the game when 
the chips are of nominal or small value. 

Progressive Jack Pots. 

Ordinarily, the opening hand for a jack pot re¬ 
mains at jacks or better. But the game is often 
played with variations even in this respect. The 
result is the progressive jack pot, viz : If the pot is 
not opened on the first deal the opening hand for 
the next deal increases from jacks, or better, to 
queens or better ; and if it is not opened on the sec¬ 
ond deal,the opening increases from queens, or bet¬ 
ter, to kings, or better, and so on to aces, or better, 
where it usually rests until the pot is opened. 

Progressive jack pots are not commendable even 
in comparison with uncommcndable jack pots in 


PEOGJ^I^SSIVE JACK POi'S. 


39 


general, for the reason that each successive step 
gives fuller information as to the value of the open¬ 
ing hand. Besides this the progressive jack pot 
curtails option and speculation to a greater degree 
than any other invention tolerated under the name 
of poker. 

Another variation of jack pots is ascending and 
descending scales; the opening hand beginning at 
jacks, or better, and going up to aces or better, and 
then descending from aces or better, to jacks or 
better, and thus on, up and down, until the pot is 
opened. Still another variation of jack pots is the 
descent from jacks, or better, to tens, or better, and 
from tens, or better, to nines, or better, and so on, 
until the pot is opened. This last is seldom played, 
however, except in a game where the players are 
limited to two people. 

The game of draw poker does not need the jack 
pot to make it interesting or entertaining; but if 
jack pots are to be played, the hand necessary to 
open them should be fixed permanently at jacks, or 
better, and the methods of bringing about a jack 
pot should be confined to that first given in this 
chapter, viz: When each player in turn to the age 
shall have passed out before the draw, the result is 
a jack pot. 


CHAPTER VI. 


Freeze Out. 

Freeze Out is a variation of Draw Poker that is 
much played and that possesses many meritorious 
features. This is especially the case when the chips 
are of nominal value. Unlike any other form of 
poker the exact amount of loss or gain is fixed at 
the beginning of the game. For in Freeze Out each 
player stakes a certain amount, and when that 
amount is lost he must retire from the game. Con¬ 
sequently he can lose no more than his original 
stake and can win no more than the combined 
stakes of his adversaries. 

Freeze Out may be played by any number of 
players from two to seven. At the beginning of the 
game each player must invest an equal sum in chips, 
and under no circumstances must he add to his 
original investment except by winning from his ad¬ 
versaries. 

Whenever any player shall have lost his origina.1 
stake, he must retire from the game. He is then 


FREEZE OUT, 


41 


said to be “ frozen out.” The game must then be 
continued by the remaining players until another 
competitor is “ frozen out,” and so on until only 
one player is left, who is entitled to all the stakes. 

If in the course of the game a player’s stake be¬ 
comes so reduced that he can not see a raise, he is 
entitled, nevertheless, to a show for what he may have 
left. But under no circumstances can he bet more 
than the full amount of this remainder. For in¬ 
stance, if he should have but one chip left and 
should hold a royal flush he can bet only that one 
chip. 

But the fact that any one player may be so re¬ 
duced does not deter his adversaries from betting 
any amount they may choose, provided that amount 
does not exceed their individual stakes. 

If in the final show of hands the reduced player 
holds the best hand, he is entitled to the stake that 
he himself has put in the pot, and to an additional 
amount equal to that stake from each of his adver- _ 
saries. The residue of the pool, if there be any, 
must go to the next best hand. 

In Freeze Out any player must always have a show 
for his money, and therefore he is placed in the po¬ 
sition of making a permanent call provided that he 
has deposited all his stake in that pool. Raising 
out a better hand than his does not effect this result, 
as has been adjudged in the case of Table Stakes. 


42 


W POKER, 


For instance if A, B, Care playing Freeze Out, and A 
has deposited all his capital in the pool, any subse¬ 
quent raising of B and C does not effect A’s right to 
a final call, or his right to win twice the amount of 
his investment provided he holds a better hand than 
B or C, even though B or C may have been raised 
out with a better hand than A. To make this clearer, 
suppose that A holds three tens, B three nines, 
and C three jacks. A has deposited all the money 
that he has in the pot. He can therefore bet no 
more. But B and C may bet, and B with three 
nines raises C with three jacks to such an amount 
that C refuses to call. This action on the part of 
C deprives him of any further interest in the pot, as 
he has voluntarily retired from the game. This is 
not the case with A, however, and in the final show 
of hands he wins twice the amount of his stake in ad‘ 
dition to that stake, because his three tens beat B’s 
three nines. Of course the remainder of the pot 
goes to B. 

In Freeze Out there should be no fixed limit as in 
the ordinary game of Draw Poker. The reason for 
this is that the primary conditions of Freeze Out con¬ 
stitute a limit in themselves. No player can at any 
time bet more than he possesses of the sum of the 
priginal stakes, but the nature of Freeze Out de¬ 
mands that he be allowed to bet all this at any time 


FREEZE OUT, 


43 


he chooses. To play an ordinary limit in Freeze 
Out serves only to retard the game and make it 
dull. In other respects the laws of Draw Poker as 
heretofore given, govern the laws of Freeze Out. 


CHAPTER VII. 


Table Stakes, 

Still another variation of Draw Poker, and a high¬ 
ly commendable one, is to be found in the game of 
Table Stakes. Indeed this method of playing Poker 
has become so popular that it has been generally 
adopted in club usage. In character, it bears a 
marked similiarity to the Freeze Out game, but with 
this difference: In Freeze Out, if a player loses his 
original stake, he must retire from the game; in the 
Table Stakes game he may provide himself with a 
fresh stake under certain conditions. 

But in both games the cardinal and most admira¬ 
ble principle is that they are conducted on a cash 
basis. The credit system of Poker is the very worst 
outcome of the ^ame. It not only severs friendships 
and makes bad debts, but often leads well-meaning 
but weak-willed people to play far beyond their act¬ 
ual means. While I trust that no reader of this book 
will ever risk at Poker a penny that he feeb he could 
not lose without regretting the loss, it is well to be 


TABLE STAKES. 


45 


fortified against the temptations of the credit system 
of Poker. I have seen many of these games and out 
of them all I can not recall a single one, which did 
not result in some unpleasantness. Therefore, I 
most heartily recommend the Table Stakes game, 
which is in detail as follows : 

Each player must deposit on the table at the be¬ 
ginning of the game a fixed stake. This stake 
should be in all cases an equal one. 

The amount of this stake can not be added to 
from any source except the winnings from other 
plaj^ers. 

No player can retire from the game with any part 
of this stake until the close of the game or until the 
hour fixed for its close. 

No player can be deprived of a call, if he puts up 
all his money. 

No player can play on credit. He must put into 
the pot the amount that he bets. 

No player can borrow from another player under 
any circumstances. 

When a player exhausts his stake he can buy a 
fresh stake only by the unanimous consent of the 
other players. 

The fundamental laws of Draw Poker govern the 
Table Stakes game. 

While these rules may seem harsh they are never¬ 
theless just and should be used, because they pro- 


46 


DKAW POKER, 


tect honest and honorable players from those that are 
dishonest and dishonorable. In Poker, as in all other 
transactions of life, men who pay their debts are con¬ 
stantly victimized by those who do not. In the I'a- 
ble Stakes game of Poker this is impossible, for no 
debts can be contracted. All attempts to modify 
the rules of this game should be regarded with suspi¬ 
cion and should be discountenanced. 

In this connection I beg leave to call attention to 
the following decision, that has been largely pub- 
lishe‘d : 

“A, B, and C are playing Draw Poker. Before the 
draw, A bets $5, B sees it, and C raises it $to. A 
has only $5 left, which he puts up for a sight; B puts 
up to cover C’s raise. 

After the draw, B bets $5, and C raises him $50. 
B declines to call, bluffed out by C’s last raise. But, 
on a show of hands to decide what becomes of A’s 
stake, A has three kings ; B three aces; and C, three 
queens. The question is, what becomes of A’s 
stake ? 

The decision is that C takes the entire pot. 

The theory of this decision is based on the fact 
that the $30 of the pot, in which alone A had an 
equal interest, is a pot of itself, in which all three 
players are equally concerned. When the hands 
are shown, A loses his money to B, because that 
player had a better hand than A, and A’s claim 


TABLE STAKES, 


47 


ceases. But B’s winnings from A, as well as all his 
other interest in the pot, reverts to C, whose hand 
actually ranked B’s, because he made it a stronger 
one for current purposes by backing it to an extent 
beyond B’s inclination.” 

I submit that this decision is unjust and contrary 
to the laws and spirit of Poker. B had the option to 
call C, but refused and passed out. Now one of 
the most imperative laws in poker declares specifi¬ 
cally that if a player pass or ihrcnv tip his hand, he 
passes out of the game and can not, under any circum¬ 
stances whatever, participate further in the game 
during that deal. Under this undisputed law and 
by his own voluntary act B is debarred from any 
further claim to any part of the pot under consider¬ 
ation. But this is not the case with A, who has 
put up all his money and called for a show. If he 
had more money it is possible that he would call C’s 
raise of $50 or even go better. But whether he 
would or not he has the right, under the rules 
governing Table Stakes Poker, to a show for his 
money. Therefore the decision in this suppositious 
case should be this : 

A must take $30 of the money in the pool and C 
must take the balance. B gets nothing because he 
had not the courage to back his hand. 

The decision that I have quoted directly trans¬ 
gresses two important Poker laws and is therefore spu- 


48 


DRAW POKER. 


rious. Nor is its logic any better than its law. “ The 
theory of this decision,” to quote from the quota¬ 
tion, “ is based on the fact that the $30 of the pot, 
in which alone A had an equal interest is a pot of 
itself, in which all three players are equally con¬ 
cerned.” But it is not a fact that this $30 is a pot 
of itself. If it is, why is its possession not decided 
at that point ? And if it is a pot of itself, and B can 
be brought back into the game, after having once 
passed out, why should not this $30 be av/arded to 
B ? He had called at the $30 point and had the 
best hand at the end of the game. If he is to be 
restored to the game at all, he should certainly be 
restored with full rights. Certainly it would be 
just as logical to restore him in order that he might 
win the pot for himself, as to restore him that he 
might win it for C. But the decision is absurd on 
its face and needs to be discussed no further. I am 
only surprised to find it published in some otherwise 
excellent treatises on Draw Poker. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

The Unlhniied and Old-fashioned Games, 

I shall not spend much time in discussing either 
the unlimited or the so-called old-fashioned game 
of Draw Poker. The former is such a dangerous 
game that even professional gamblers are wary of 
it (when playing among themselves) and the latter 
is well nigh obsolete. The unlimited game of Poker 
is noticeable chiefly on account of the wonderful 
romances that it has been made the vehicle of and 
that still cluster about it in luxuriance. This form 
of Poker used to prevail on the Mississippi River 
steamboats, the origin of so much that is extra¬ 
ordinary, and if we are to believe the astonishing 
stories that are offered to us as the incidental his¬ 
tory of the game “ before the war,” Southern plan¬ 
ters were wont to stake untold gold, astonishing 
checks, whole plantations, and entire droves of negro 
slaves on the hands they held. The captains of the 
steamboats used to take a hand, too, and stake the 
very boats in which the voyages were being made. 


50 


DRAW POKER. 


Even the nation’s illustrious dead do not escape the 
Poker romancer’s fertile fancy, and the revered 
names of Clay and Webster are made to figure as 
redoubtable warriors in terrific Poker battles. It is 
told to us seriously that Clay with ace high once 
called Webster’s raise of some thousands and found 
his opponent with only a pair of deuces. Poker 
players of this generation in accepting this story, if 
any do accept it, must conclude that if Henry Clay 
was as ignorant of state-craft as this play would 
indicate that he was ignorant of Poker, he would not 
have risen above the grade of a ward politician. 

But Poker players of to-day do not accept this 
story as true, nor for that matter, any of the Missis¬ 
sippi River steamboat fairy tales. The gentlemen 
of that day were as conservative relatively as the 
gentlemen of this, and if they did play the unlimited 
game of Draw Poker it was because they knew no 
other. As a matter of fact the unlimited game is 
played with far more caution than the limited game, 
and if there are unquestionable instances of men 
losing princely fortunes in this way, the losers were 
universally fools or drunkards. 

Nevertheless, the unlimited game should be 
steered clear of. Few American gentlemen possess 
sufficient means to successfully combat all of its pos¬ 
sibilities, and the limited game aftbrds quite as much 
amusement. And I contend that Poker should 


THE OLD-FASHIONED GAME. 


51 


never be played with any deeper purpose than amuse¬ 
ment, even by those players that are candid enough 
to confess that their only amusement is in winning. 

The chief purpose in the unlimited game is to give 
full swing to bluffing. For while the regulations that 
govern the unlimited game are generally those that 
govern the limited game, straights and jack pots are 
usually ruled out and the privilege of calling for a 
show for the money that any player has about him, is 
denied. 

If two or more men agree to play the unlimited 
game, it is understood that each player is prepared 
to call any raise that any other player may make. 
If any player should make a bet to an amount 
greater than the sum of money immediately at the 
command of another player, and this second player 
should desire to call, the second player may have 
twenty-four hours in which to procure the money 
necessary to call the first player. In the meantime 
the cards are to be sealed up and lodged in hands 
satisfactory to both the players or all the players. 

The possibility of such a contingency as this must 
forever debar the unlimited game from the consider¬ 
ation of amusement seekers. 

The Old-Fashioned Game. 

The old-fashioned game of Draw Poker differs 
from that usually jfiayed nowadays in that there is 


52 


DJ?AW POKER. 


no compulsory ante. Many Poker players claim 
that every step in the game should be optional. 
Therefore they object to the compulsory ante of the 
age as played in the modern game. Their method 
is as follows: 

The dealer opens the hand by putting up a fixed 
ante before dealing. But this is not in the strict 
sense a bet or blind. 

The age alone has the privilege of going a blind, 
provided he does so before the cards are cut for the 
deal, but this is optional and not compulsory. 

Previous to the draw, any player may pass and 
afterwards come in again, provided no bet or blind 
has been made before he passes. 

If, previous to the draw, all the players, including 
the dealer, pass without making a bet, the hand is 
ended, and a new deal must be made, the age, who 
has now become the dealer, putting up an ante and 
dealing. 

In other respects the game is similar to the 
modern game. The possibility of passing twice is a 
feature of this game that causes much uncertainty 
and amusement, but the game as a whole was long 
since discarded for the regular ante game. 


CHAPTER IX. 


Hints to Players. 

Thus far I have dealt mainly with the specific 
laws governing the game of Draw Poker and the 
numerous variations of that game. My purpose has 
been to present those laws in as clear a light as 
possible and to arrange them in the most convenient 
form for reference. It is a more congenial task to 
turn to a few generalities of the game. 

While I am aware that there are many people, 
who know more about the successful application of 
the rules of this game than I, there are also many, I 
believe, who know less. Else I should not have un¬ 
dertaken to write this volume. But a correct know¬ 
ledge of the rules of the game does not always 
make successful Poker players, although it invariably 
makes desirable ones. 

Some writers on the subject of Poker have as¬ 
sumed to lay down a formula, by which success is 
almost, if not quite assured. This formula, how¬ 
ever verbose it may be, generally amounts to the 


54 


W POKER, 


advice to never go in on less than triplets. While 
it is possible that such a plan would generally win 
in a game where the other players were more liberal 
it would take but a very short time for these more 
liberal players to detect the plan, and to boycott the 
player pursuing it. For my own part I had rather 
lose at a game of Poker than to win at the cost of 
being considered mean. I would advise all amuse¬ 
ment seekers, therefore, to abandon the “triplet” 
policy, for they may set it down as a moral certainty 
that if they do not abandon such a policy the other 
players will abandon them. 

The theory that a player can win by meanness 
where all the other players are liberal, is not to be 
entertained by any gentleman. At the same time 
it does not follow that a player must play foolishly 
because others in the game play foolishly. Caution 
is an excellent thing in Poker, and it should always 
be exercised with judgment. 

On Judgment, 

My individual experience has taught me that a 
study of my adversaries, their natures, temperaments 
and methods is of more value than a study of the 
cards that come into my hand. Still every player 
should govern his play not by either his own hand 
or his impression of his adversaries separately, but 
by the resultant of these two forces. For instance 


av JUDGMENT. 


55 


if you feel certain that an adversary is bluffing and 
you have no better hand than ace high, it is wise to 
lay it down, for the chances are that he would beat 
you if you called him. On the other hand if you 
were to find triplets in your hand, and the circum¬ 
stances of your adversary’s draw and the manner of 
his betting convinced you that he had better than 
triplets, it were wise not to call his raise. Thus it 
will be seen that every hand at Poker should be play¬ 
ed with judgment, both as to the relative values of 
the hands out and to the manner in which they are 
played. 

Judgment, in fact, is the most desirable quality in 
a Poker player. With some people it is a gift, 
while with others it is almost entirely wanting. It 
is needless to say that when the former class of 
players meet the latter, it is always a Waterloo for 
the latter. 


On Patience. 

Another admirable quality in a Poker player is 
patience. There comes a time in the experience of 
every one, v/ho plays this game, when it is impossible 
to win a pot. Either you can get no hands to go in 
on (a costly experience where jack pots are played) 
or going in you are raised out, or worse than all you 
play and are just beaten every time. This is what 
tries the soul of the Poker player and makes him 


56 


n/HA W POKER. 


liken himself unto the sorely afflicted Job. But in 
most cases, unlike Job, he loses all patience, be¬ 
comes enraged at the dire misfortune that so steadily 
besets him, strives to change affairs by bluffing and 
playing recklessly otherwise, and finally rushes on 
headlong to destruction. Cultivate patience if you 
would succeed at Poker. 

Good fortune may also have an evil effect. Some 
players are so elated by temporary prosperity that 
they not only become a nuisance to the other play¬ 
ers but expose their play to their less emotional ad¬ 
versaries. Such players are universally the most 
morbid and complaining when in misfortune. Theory 
and experience both teach the value of the formula 
that I laid down in the introduction of this volume, 
viz ; 

Watch the game closely ; study your adversaries 
caref ully j he patient in adversity and calm in pros¬ 
perity. 

That is the sum of my knowledge of the game of 
Poker, and it is the only general rule that I can offer 
to the thoughtful consideration of Poker players. 
And I may add that I have very little faith in any 
other, hov/ever carefully it may be worked out on 
mathematical principles or according to “ chance 
laws.” The abstractly logical is the best reasoning 
for Poker. 


ON COMING IN 


57 


On Coming in. 

But while I have set down this general law for all 
Poker players, there are many specific points about 
which the novice, at least, may be advised. The 
first of these, and it is among the most important, if 
not the most important, concerns the hands that 
justify a player in coming in. To draw or not to 
draw is the question that most agitates the Poker 
player. Some writers on this subject have endeav¬ 
ored by mathematical calculation to show that a 
player should never come in on anything less than a 
pair of tens. This depends altogether on the play 
of one’s adversaries. If all the other players refused 
to come in on anything less than a pair of aces, you 
coming in habitually on tens would be at a disad¬ 
vantage. On the other hand, if all the other play¬ 
ers were wont to come in on any pair, whatever, you 
could afford to come in on a pair less than tens. 
In coming in as in every other feature of Poker the 
characters and methods of one’s adversaries must 
be studied. In coming in it is necessary to bear 
in mind the possibilities of a raise before, the draw. 
As these possibilities decrease, and they decrease 
directly as a player approaches the age, the value of 
the “come in” hand increases before the draw. It 
is a good rule, however to refuse to come in on any 
hand so weak as not to warrant you in standing a 
moderate raise. 


58 


DRA W POKER. 


The position of the age with regard to coming in 
is peculiar. He already has staked an ante, which 
must be lost if he refuses to play. Every other 
player, who comes in, must put up twice this 
amount. The age, however, has only to put up as 
much as he has already staked, and thus the convic¬ 
tion presents itself to his mind that he is playing at 
only half as much cost as each of his adversaries is. 
In other words he thinks that it is cheap to draw 
cards, and he comes in on anything and often on 
nothing. This is false reasoning and results in 
throwing good money after bad. If you have no 
hand to protect it with, sacrifice your ante. The 
fact that you can draw cards for one dollar where 
other people have to pay two dollars for the same 
privilege does not effect the relative value of your 
hand to theirs. 

In the case of jack pots it is well never to come 
in on anything less than jacks. For you know that 
the opener of such a pot must hold jacks or better. 
By coming in on anything less than jacks you know 
that you are beaten before the draw, and that you 
will be beaten after the draw, unless you improve. 
But even granting that you improve, your adversary 
has an equal chance of improvement with you, and 
if he improves in the same degree that you do, he 
must always beat you. 


ON STRAIGHTS AND FLUSHES. 


59 


On Straights and Flushes. 

The question of playing incomplete straights and 
flushes is one that presents itself to every Poker 
player as a serious problem. The best players of 
my acquaintance refuse to play them except under 
certain circumstances when the percentage of risk is 
overcome by the percentage of possible gain. For 
instance, if a large jack pot is being contended for, 
and all the players are in, or a large number of them, 
it would be not only justifiable but wise to take the 
risk of filling a straight or flush. But in a small pot 
with only one or two players against you, it would 
not be wise to pay for the privilege of drawing to 
your incomplete straight or fl.isli. Not but what 
you are just as likely to fill your straight or flush in 
the latter instance, as in the former, but because the 
proportion of possible gain to your actual invest¬ 
ment is far beneath the proportion of the chances 
against your filling to the chances for your filling. 

An excellent way to play incomplete straights or 
flushes is to bet them before the draw as though 
they were two pairs or better. By playing such 
hands in this way you create the impression that you 
are tolerably well fortified, and unless your adversary 
improves in the draw he is not likely to call your 
raise after the draw. Then of course there is always 
the possibility that you may fill your hand, in which 
event you are well armed for battle. 


6 o 


^DJ^:A W POKER. 


In cases when you have come in on a hand con¬ 
taining a pair and a four flush or straight, and you 
have been raised, it is well to throw avv^ay one of 
your pair and draw to the flush or straight. This is 
especially wise when the pair is small. For if you 
fill the flush or straight, you will probably win, and 
if you do not fill it, there’s an end of the whole 
thing. In drawing to the pair you not only take the 
chance of not improving, but the additional chance 
of being beaten if you do improve. 

On Cziriosity. 

The deadliest of all Poker vices is curiosity. Curi¬ 
osity is rarely worth gratifying when it costs nothing 
to gratify it, but when this gratification must be paid 
for continually and largely, what must we say ? The 
Poker player that always calls, always loses in the 
long run. The other players in the game readily 
and quickly detect this fault, and they then invari¬ 
ably raise the unfortunate victim of curiosity with the 
expectation of a call. Every good Poker player is 
content to sometimes lay down the better hand. 

It is due to curiosity that women generally do not 
play Poker as well as men. I say this with 
some fear of offending my fair readers, but a long 
experience of playing the game with the gentler sex 
compels the assertion. In dash and brilliancy of 
play they often excel their male competitors, but 


ON BLUFFING. 


6 i 

when it comes to calling they must see what is out 
against them. But curiosity in Poker playing is by 
no means confined to women. Many men are 
inveterate and habitual callers, and consequently 
habitual losers. Players of this kind are wont to 
console themselves with the reflection that they 
weren’t bluffed at any rate. But this is a poor 
recompense for defeat and loss. 

On 

As the inveterate caller is bound to lose ulti¬ 
mately, so is the inveterate bluffer. In the limited 
game bluffing is a dangerous experiment at best. 
Plis bluff is limited to a comparatively small amount, 
and if the pot is large and any fair hand is out 
against him, he is almost certain to be called. It 
requires the closest attention and the shrewdest 
judgment to bluff successfully. There are some 
players, the habitual callers, that it is almost impos¬ 
sible to bluff, and it is well never to attempt it with 
them. 

The question of bluffing is difficult to deal with, 
and I know of no law for its successful practice. 
There is a common error in this connection, how¬ 
ever, that every Poker player should avoid: the 
attempt to retrieve losses by bluffing. Nothing is 
so futile as this, for the other players are expecting 
you to resort to this expedient, and their previous vie- 


62 


BJHA W POKER. 


tories over you have led them to despise rather than 
fear you. It is far better to bluff in prosperity than 
in adversity, for then the other players do fear you. 

Some players on entering a game begin by bluff¬ 
ing, being desirous to establish a reputation for this 
kind of play. They call this “advertising,” and 
after having “ advertised ” lay in wait for good 
hands. The policy is not a bad one if good hands 
come, but it is a losing one if they do not come. 
Such players usually make the mistake of showing 
their hands whether they are called or not, and 
of exulting in the success of their ventures. This is 
not good Poker. For his own sake no player 
should ever show a hand that is not called. For 
every item of information concerning his play is of 
value to his adversaries. A cardinal principle of 
Poker is that no player is entitled to know anything 
of another’s play unless he pays for his information. 

On Atte 7 ition. 

This principle leads naturally to the matter of 
paying attention to the details of the game. The 
rules of Poker assume that each player takes advan¬ 
tage of his ample opportunities to know exactly 
what every other player at the table is doing or has 
done. As a consequence there is only one question 
that can be legally asked in Poker, provided each 
player follows the rules of the game strictly. This 


ON BORROIVING. 


63 


is the question of the dealer as to how many cards 
he draws. If, however, a player makes a bet in 
such a way as to create a doubt as to the amount of 
his bet, he may very justly be asked to state his 
meaning plainly. But under no other circumstances 
are questions justified in Poker. It will be seen 
from this that the game may be played in compara¬ 
tive silence, and indeed a silent game of Poker is 
far more desirable and far more enjoyable than a 
noisy one. 

Still any player at a poker table is permitted to 
say anything within decency that he pleases. Some 
players take advantage of this fact to banter their 
adversaries and to make all sorts of remarks con¬ 
cerning their hands with the purpose of misleading 
other players. Such players generally regard them¬ 
selves as being very ‘'smart’' but they ultimately 
come to grief when they cross swords with the 
silent man who takes in every detail of the game 
and gives away nothing with regard to his own hand 
or play. 

On Borrowing. 

No player should ever borrow or lend a penny at 
the Poker table. And this applies equally to all 
games whether the chips are of real or nominal 
value. If it had no other effect than that of creating 
misunderstandings and disputes as to the amounts 


64 


V/?A IV POKER, 


borrowed or loaned, or as to whether or not these 
amounts had been repaid, this would be enough to 
condemn the practice. But it does more than this. 
It confuses the game; it creates ill-feeling; it en¬ 
courages carelessness; it invites dishonesty; and it 
severs friendships. If old Polonius’ theme had been 
Poker, he could not have given better advice when 
he said to Laertes: 

“ Neither a borrower nor a lender be: 

For a loan oft loses both itself and friend; 

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” 

A question of no little importance is that concern¬ 
ing the length of time that a game of Poker should prop¬ 
erly occupy. This should be determined before the 
game begins. A certain hour should be fixed for 
the game to end and it should end then, no matter 
how individual players may stand. Another advan¬ 
tage of fixing a time for stopping is that such an 
agreement keeps every player in the game until the 
hour of closing arrives. Otherwise some mean play¬ 
ers are apt to make excuses and leave the game when 
they are ahead. 

In drawing, it is not well to hold up a side card 
unless it is for the purpose of deception. 

Never bemoan your losses or rail at misfortune. 
Nothing is so ludicrous as a Poker player fuming and 
fretting over what is lost and crying like a big baby 
at every fresh defeat. 


ON BORRO WING. 


65 


Never exult in victory, for it is impossible to tell 
when fortune may kick you off the pedestal of your 
exultation. 

Do not think because you have filled a certain 
hand once that it is more difficult to fill the same 
hand a second or a third time. The chances against 
holding a certain hand are the same in every deal, 
just as the chances against throwing an ace are just 
the same in every toss of a die. In the case of the 
die the chances are always five to one against throw¬ 
ing an ace, whether the ace has been cast six times 
in succession or not at all. 

In Poker parties numbering five or more, I would 
recommend that the game be played with two packs 
of cards at the same time. This is done by dealing 
with alternate packs, each dealer shuffling and cut¬ 
ting the cards that he has just dealt, and handing 
them to the age to deal. In this method as in the 
case of the single pack, any player at the board has 
the right to shuffle the cards. With two packs the 
discard should always be thrown to the dealer. The 
advantage of two packs is found in the gain of time 
ordinarily consumed in shuffling and dealing. 


CHAPTER X. 

Schenck on Poker. 

No name has ever been so associated with the 
game of Draw Poker as that of the Hon. Robert C. 
Schenck, at one time the American Minister to Great 
Britain. For many years he has been accepted as 
an authority on the game, and although his rules do 
not cover all the variations and innovations of Poker, 
they are nevertheless worthy of perusal. It was 
doubtful whether General Schenck expected either 
fame or notoriety when he formulated these rules. 
Certainly the following extract from a letter written 
by him to the Hon. Thomas L. Young of Ohio, indi¬ 
cates that he did not:— 

“In the Summer of 1872, while visiting with others 
at a country house in Somersetshire, the guests, as is 
usual in English society, amused themselves in the 
evening with games at cards; and, as is also usual, 
the stakes were for pennies and sixpences. They 
were anxious to learn the American game of Poker, 
of which they had heard, and of which some of them 


SCHENCK ON POKER, 


67 


already knew a little. I showed them how it was 
played. When I was coming away the lady of the 
house requested me as a favor to herself and other 
friends who found it attractive and amusing, to write 
down some of the rules of the game, as it is so 
generally played in America. I complied with her 
request as well as I could at the very morning of 
my leaving her hospitable house, and thought little 
more of my act of politeness until she surprised me 
by sending me some copies of these rules, which a 
gentleman, another visitor, had had printed for her, 
and for their own private use and circulation, on his 
own private printing-press. It was very prettily 
done. It was intended as a compliment, and I am 
very sure that nobody can be more amazed or more 
annoyed than my friend. Lady W., and her family 
and guests, to find that they have thus unwittingly 
brought down on me the wrath and reprehension of 
so many good people in America.” 


RULES FOR PLAYING POKER. 

By the Hon, Robert C, Sehench, Efivoy Extraordinary 
and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States 
of America near Her Majesty the Qiceen of Great 
Britain and Irela?td, 

The deal is of no special value, and anybody may 
begin. 



68 


DJ^A W POKER. 


The dealer, beginning with the person at his left, 
throws around five cards to each player, giving one 
card at a time. 

The dealer shuffles and makes up the pack him¬ 
self, or it may be done by the player at his left, and 
the player at his right must cut. 

To begin the pool, the player next to the dealer 
on his left, must put up money, which is called an 
“ ante,” and then in succession, each player, passing 
around to the left, must after looking at his hand, 
determine if he goes in or not; and each person 
deciding to play for the pool must put in twice the 
amount of the ante. Those who decline to play 
throw up their cards, face downward, on the table, 
and per consequence, in front of the next dealer. 

When all who wish to play have gone in, the 
person putting up the ante can either give up all 
interest in the pool, thus forfeiting the ante which 
has been put up, or else can play like the others 
who have gone in, by “ making good,” that is, putting 
up in addition to the ante as much more as will 
make him equal in stake to the rest. 

If a number of players have gone in, it is best 
generally for the ante-man to make good and go in, 
even with a poor hand, because half his stake is al¬ 
ready up, and he can therefore stay in for half as 
much as the others have ha"d to put up, which is a 
percentage in favor of his taking the risk. This, of 


SCHENCK ON POKER, 


69 


course, does not apply if any one has “ raised,” that 
is more than doubled the ante before it comes 
around to the starting point. 

Any one at the time of going in must put up as 
much more as double the ante, and may put up as 
much more as he pleases byway of “raising” the 
ante, in which case every other player must put up 
as much as will make his stake equal to such in¬ 
crease, or else abandon what he has already put in. 

Each player, as he makes good and equals the 
others who are in before him, can thus increase the 
ante if he chooses, compelling the others still to 
come up to that increase or to abandon their share 
in the pool. 

All “ going in ” or “ raising ” of the pool, as well 
as all betting afterward, must be in regular order, 
going round by the left; no one going in, making 
good, or increasing the ante, or betting, except in 
turn. 

When all are in equally who intend to play, each 
player in turn v/ill have the privilege of drawing; 
that is, of throwing away any number of his five 
cards and drawing as many others, to try thus to 
better his hand. The cards thus thrown up must be 
placed face downward on the table, and, for con¬ 
venience, in front of or near the next dealer. 

The dealer, passing around to the left, will ask 
each player in turn how many cards he will have, 


70 


£>J?A W l^OKER, 


and deal him the number asked for from the top of 
the pack without their being seen. The dealer, if 
he has gone in to play for the pool, will, in like 
manner, help himself last. 

The players must throw away their discarded cards 
before taking up or looking at those which they 
draw. 

In the game every player is for himself and against 
all others, and to that end will not let any of his 
cards be seen, nor betray the value of his hand by 
drawing or playing out of his turn, or by change of 
countenance, or any other sign. It is a great ob¬ 
ject to mystify your adversaries up to the “call,” 
when hands have to be shown. To this end it is 
permitted to chaff or talk nonsense, with a view of 
misleading your adversaries as to the value of your 
hand, but this must be without unreasonably delay¬ 
ing the game. 

When the drawing is all complete, the betting 
goes around in order, like the drawing, to the left. 
The ante man is the first to bet unless he has de¬ 
clined to play, and in that case the first to bet is the 
player nearest to the dealer on his left. But the 
player entitled to bet first may withhold his bet until 
the others have bet round to him, which is called 
“holding the age,” and this being an advantage, 
should as a general rule be practiced. 

Each bettor in turn must put into the pool a sum 


SCHENCK ON POKER, 


71 


equal at least to the first bet made ; but each may in 
turn increase the bet or raise it as it comes to him; 
in which case the bets, proceeding around in order, 
must be made by each player in his turn equal to 
the highest amount put in by any one, or else failing 
to do that, the party who fails must go out of the 
play, forfeiting his interest in the pool. 

When a player puts in only as much as has been 
put in by each player who has preceded him, that is 
called “ seeing ” the bet. 

When a player puts in that much, and raises it, 
that is called seeing the bet and “ going better.” 

When the bet goes around to the last bettor or 
player who remains in, if he does not wish to see and 
go better, he simply sees and “calls,” and then all 
playing must show their hands, and the highest hand 
wins the pool. 

When any one declines to see the bet, or the in¬ 
crease of bet, which has been made, he “ lays down ” 
his hand, that is, throws it up with the cards face 
downward on the table. If all the other players 
throw down their hands the one who remains in to 
the last wins, and takes the pool without showing 
his hand. 

To “bluff” is to take the risk of betting high 
enough on a poor hand, or a worthless one, to make 
all the other players lay down their hands without 
seeing or calling you. 


72 


V/ POKER. 


When a hand is complete so that the holder of it 
can play without drawing to better it, that is called 
a “pat” hand. A bold player will sometimes de¬ 
cline to draw any cards, and pretend to have a “pat” 
hand, and play it as such, when he has none. 

A skilful player will watch and observe v/hat 
each player draws, the expression of the face, the 
circumstances and manner of betting, and judge, or 
try to judge the value of each hand opposed to him 
accordingly. 

No one is bound to answer the question, how 
many cards he drew, except the dealer; and the 
dealer is not bound to tell after the betting has 
begun. 

Of Drawing. 

If the player determines to draw to a pair, he 
dra.ws three cards. If he draws to two pairs, he 
draws one card. 

If he holds three to begin with, he draws two 
cards, in order to have the best chance of making a 
full, inasmuch as, in playing, pairs are apt to run to¬ 
gether. But to deceive his adversaries, and make 
them think he has nothing better than two pairs, a 
sharp player will draw but one card to his threes. 

It is advisable sometimes to keep an ace, or other 
high card, as an “ outsider,” with a small pair, and 
draw but one card—thus taking the chances of 


ON DRA WING. 


73 


matching the high card, and so getting a good two 
pairs, or something better possibly—while at the 
same time others may be deceived into believing 
that the player is drawing to threes. 

When drawing to cards of the same suit, to try to 
make a flush, or to cards of successive denomina¬ 
tions, to try to make a sequence, as many more 
cards are to be taken as will be needed to fill out the 
flush or the sequence. But it is seldom advisable to 
venture in to draw for either a flush or sequence 
when more than one card is required to complete 
the hand. 

When a player holds fours in his original hand, it 
is as good as it can be ; and yet it is best to throw 
away the outside card and draw one, because others 
may then think he is only drawing to two pairs, or 
for a flush or a sequence, and will not suspect the 
value of the hand. 

When one is in (as he ought seldom to be) with¬ 
out even so much as a pair, his choice must be, 
either to discard four cards, or three cards, and draw 
to the highest or two highest in the hand, or throw 
away the whole hand and draw five, or look content 
and serious, stand pat, and bet high ! 

The player determining to try this last alternative 
on a worthless hand, had generally better begin by 
raising when he goes in, or else nobody will be likely 
to believe in his pretended strong hand. 


74 


nj?A W POKER, 


Relative Value of Hands in Their Order^ Beginning 
with Best, 

1. A Sequence Flush—which is a sequence of five 
cards, and all of the same suit. 

2. Fours—Which is four of the five cards of the 
same denomination. 

3. A Full—Which is a hand consisting of three 
cards of the same denomination, and two of likewise 
equal denomination. 

4. A Flush—Which is all live cards of the same 
suit. 

5. A Sequence—Which is all five cards not of the 
same suit but all in sequence. [In computing the 
value of a sequence, an ace counts either as the 
highest or the lowest card; that is, below a deuce or 
above a king.) 

6. Threes—Which is three cards of the same 
denomination, but the other two of different denomi¬ 
nations from each other. 

7. Two pairs. 

8. One pair. 

When a hand has neither of the above the count 
is by the cards of the highest value or denomination. 

When parties opposed each holds a pair, the 
highest pair wins, and the same when each party 
holds threes or fours. 

When each party holds two pairs, the highest pair 


I^ELATIVE VALUE OF/LANDS. 


75 


of the two determines the relative value of the 
hands. 

When each party holds a sequence, the hand com¬ 
mencing with the highest card in sequence wins ; so, 
also, when two or more parties hold flushes against 
each other. 

That full counts highest of which the three cards 
of the same denomination are highest. The two 
cards of the same denomination help only to con¬ 
stitute the full, but do not add to the value of the 
hand. When hands are equal so far that each party 
holds a pair, or two pairs, of exactly the same value, 
then the next highest card or cards in each hand 
must be compared with the next highest card or 
cards in the other hand to determine which wins. 

In case of the highest hands (which very seldom 
occurs) being exactly equal, the pool is divided. 

The main elements of success in the game are : 
good luck; (2) good cards j {$) plenty of cheek ; (4) 
and good temper* 


CHAPTER XL 


Matheinatical Probabilities. 

For the benefit of those readers, who may find 
pleasure in trying to reduce draw Poker to the ex¬ 
actness of mathematics, I republish certain tables 
below, which may aid them materially. Dr. Pole 
calculated and arranged the following table of prob¬ 
abilities of the different Poker hands falling to any 
given player before the draw. 

(The probabilities of the higher classes of hands are 
excluded from those of higher value, in which they 
might also occur.) 

Probability. Odds against. 

I. Straight flush . 00000155 •••• 64,99910 i 


2. Fours.000242 .... 4,16410 I 

3. Full hand.00145 _ 69310 i 

4. Flush.00195 _ 507 to I 

5. Straight.oo395 _ 254 to i 

6. Threes.0218 .... 45 to i 

7. Two pairs.0476 .... 20 to i 

8. One pair.437 - 13 to 10 


Lieut. William Hoffman of the U. S. Army in 
1879, arTanged the following table of possible hands 
before the draw: 










' MA THEMA 7VCAL PROBABILITIES. 


77 


Number of possible hands, each different, 2,598,- 
960. Of these 


40.. are Straight Flushes. 

624. “ Fours, 

3.744. “'Fulls, 

5,108. “ Flusnes, 

10,200. “ Straights, 

54,912. “ Threes, 

f 123,552. “ Two pairs 

1,098,240. “ One pair. 


i,296,42o=Total number of hands containing one 
or better. The two pairs are subdivided as follows: 


Aces and 

19,008' 

Kings ‘ 

17.424 

Queens “ 

15,840 

Jacks 

14,256 

Tens 

12,672 

Nines “ 

11,088 

Eights “ 

9.504 ' 

Sevens “ 

7,920 

Sixes “ 

6.336 

Fives “ 

4.752 

Fours “ 

3.168 

Threes “ 

1.584J 

Then there are 

of hands 


123.552 


one pair : 
502,860 
335.580 
213,180 
127,500 
70,380 
34,680 
14,280 
4,080 


Ace highs 
King “ 
Queen “ 
Jack “ 
Ten “ 
Nine “ 
Eight “ 
Seven “ 


1,302,540 = Total number of hands of less value 
than one pair: 













78 


DRA W POKER. 


f 1,296,420=Number of hands containing^ one pair or over. 
1,302,540 “ “ “ less than one pair. 

Proof - 

1.2, ■598,960=Number of possible combinations. 

Some attempt has been made to reduce the pro¬ 
babilities of the draw to a mathematical basis, but 
such attempts are at best only guesswork, and there¬ 
fore have no place here. In this connection I 
may be allowed to express the opinion that no mere 
mathematici?n will ever become a successful Poker 
player. Abstract logic is what is needed to win at 
Poker, 


CHAPTER XII. 


Progressive Poker. 

The latest development of Draw Poker is known 
as Progressive Poker and doubtless owes its origin 
to the popularity of progressive euchre. As a par¬ 
lor game it is highly amusing and bids fair to monop¬ 
olize the attention of those lovers of Poker, who 
play for chips of nominal value only. Progres¬ 
sive Poker may be played by any number of people 
sufficient to fill at least four tables. It is not neces¬ 
sary that there should be the same number of players 
at each table, and in fact usage has almost fixed five * 
as the number for the head table and four for each of 
the others, except the last or “ booby ” table, at 
which any number may play up to six. 

New comers may be accommodated at the 
“ booby ” table until the number of players at that 
table exceeds six, when a new “ booby ” table must 
be made by taking all the players from the old 
“ booby ” table except four. 

The arrangement of the tables, the assignment of 
the players to their respective places, the distribu- 


8 o 


DRA W POKER, 


tion of chips and all questions that may arise in the 
progress of the game must be left to the banker, who 
is chosen by the players and whose decision is final. 

The numbers of the tables and the amount of the 
ante and limit allowed at each should be indicated 
by cards hung over the tables. At the head table 
there should also be a bell to be used as a signal to 
stop playing or to change tables. 

The placing of the players at the several tables 
should be done by drawing cards, on which the num¬ 
bers of the tables are marked. In order that there 
may be as nearly as possible an equal number of 
ladies and gentlemen at each table, the cards for 
each table should be divided equally, the ladies 
drawing from one package and the gentlemen from 
the other. 

When the players have been allotted to their re- 
'spective tables, it is the duty of the banker to furnish 
each with the same amount of chips. These chips 
should be of three different colors, representing three 
distinct values. For instance, if the three colors are 
white, red and blue, a red chip should be worth five 
white ones, and a blue chip five red ones or twenty- 
five white ones. 

The players are now ready to begin the game, 
which is played according to the rules of Draw Poker 
already laid down in this volume, with the following 
exceptions ; 


/^/^OGA'JiSS/FE POKER, 


8 i 


At the head table, table stakes must be played ; 
that is, no player can bet more chips than he actu¬ 
ally has, and each player is entitled to a show for all 
that he has. Under no circumstances can a player 
borrow from another player or the banker in order 
to bet at the head table. At this table solely are 
jack pots allowed. These are played as jack pots 
ordinarily are, except that the “ buck ” (any small 
article, such as a knife) is placed in the center of the 
table to be taken by the winner of the first pot after 
each change of players. This winner places the 
“ buck ” on the table in front of him, and when his 
turn to deal comes, he deposits it in the center of 
the table as a sign that a jack pot must be played. 
The jack pot must be “ fed ” with a blue chip from 
each player before each deal until it is opened. Gen¬ 
erally in Progressive Poker, progressive jack pots are 
played ; that is, as the deal progresses without open¬ 
ing the pot, the value of the opening hand increases 
from jacks or better to aces or better, where it re¬ 
mains until the pot is opened. Blinds and straddles 
are permitted at the head table only. 

At every other table than the head table, a limit 
exists, beyond which no player can ever make a sin¬ 
gle bet. These limits run as follows: At the 
second table, one blue chip; at the third, three red 
chips; at the fourth, two red chips; at the fifth, one 
red chip; and at the last or “ booby ” table, one 


82 


DA^A W POKER, 


white chip. Should there be more or less than six 
tables, the banker must arrange the limits to suit the 
circumstances. 

At all the tables the deal at the beginning of the 
game is settled by cutting the cards, the lowest deal¬ 
ing, ace being low. As the game progresses, how¬ 
ever, and the players change tables the age goes to 
the last lady coming to a table, and the cards must 
be dealt by the player at her right. Should two 
ladies progress at once to the same table, or should 
no lady progress thither, the deal must be settled by 
cutting. 

The time of progression depends on the play at 
the head table entirely. When a jack pot is won 
at this table the bell must be rung, and all the 
players must stop playing, unless there is an unfin¬ 
ished hand at any table. The players, who are 
interested in that hand, may call, but can do noth¬ 
ing more as a raise is not allowed after the bell has 
been rung. If the bell sounds at the beginning of 
a draw or while the draw is in progress, the hands 
must be shown without betting. 

The method of determining progression is this: 
At the head table the players, except the winner of 
the jack pot, must cut the cards in turn and the 
tv 70 lowest must progress dov/nwards to the “ booby” 
table. At each of the other tables the winners of 
the last two pots must progress to the next higher 

VS 152 


mOGRESSIVE POKER. 


83 


table. If the last two pots should have been taken 
by one player, the remaining players must cut and 
the highest must progress to the next higher table. 

At the close of the game, which shall be duly 
announced by the banker, each player shall count 
his chips and inform the banker of . the amount. 
The ladies, who have won the highest and the next 
highest amounts in chips should receive first and 
second prizes respectively for ladies. Similarly first 
and second prizes are awarded to the gentlemen 
Sometimes, however, “ booby ” prizes are given to the 
lady and gentleman, who have lost the greatest 
amounts. 

If in the progress of the game any player should 
lose all his chips he can replenish his stock by 
borrowing from the banker, who must charge such a 
player with the amount loaned. 

If by any chance the banker should run out of 
chips he may borrow from any of the players, giving 
due credit for the amount borrowed. 

T/ie ^'JokerP 

In this connection attention may be called to one 
other variation of Draw Poker that occasionally finds 
its way into all forms of the game. This is the use 
of the “joker.” In playing any form of Poker with 
this extra card, the player holding it is at liberty to 
call it anything he pleases, and if by so doing he can 


84 


'DJ^AW POKER. 


make a better Poker hand than his adversaries he 
must win. For instance, if the ace, king, queen, 
knave and ten of hearts were to be out against 
the ace, king, queen, knave of diamonds and the 
joker, the latter hand would win. So, too, if four 
aces were out against four deuces and the joker, 
the latter hand would win, as the holder of the 
latter hand would have the right to claim five deuces. 
This innovation, however, has never proved popular, 
and is, in fact, so foreign to the genus of Poker that 
I would not have mentioned it at all, had it not 
been for the desire to cover every phase of the game. 
Some fun may be extracted from the use of the 
joker in Poker, but the game is complete without it 
and therefore the extra card should be condemned 
as superfluous and confusing. 







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